Other Projects

Aug. 24 – Oct. 27

Lee Friedlander (American, b. 1934)
Jazz & Blues, 1983
A portfolio of seven undated dye transfer prints:
Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Milt Jackson, Joe Turner and bluesman Robert Pete Williams

Shortly after having joined Atlantic records in the 1950’s, Nesuhi Ertegun   brought in Lee Friedlander, whom Nesuhi knew from Los Angeles. Atlantic Records recorded many of the jazz greats from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and it was Lee Friedlander (along with Marvin Israel) who designed their album covers. It was from these connections, and his love of music, that Friedlander created a series of photos of American musicians.

Joel Dorn, noted American jazz and R&B producer, best praised Friedlander’s works by remarking, "Lee’s pictures show who these people were when they weren’t being who they were."  Each photograph captures the artist as completely relaxed and comfortable. He was able to portray who the person behind the performer was. Friedlander has brought each musician down to earth, and humanized the Royalty of Jazz.

Lee Friedlander was born in Aberdeen, Washington in 1934, to a German Jewish father and Finnish mother. Friedlander was only a young child when he discovered his love of photography. He says that he remembers picking up photographs for his father, entering the darkroom of the studio, and being in awe of the "sorcery" of photography. From that point forward he immersed himself in photography and has since become one of the most well-known contemporary photographers. The subject of many exhibitions and publications, most notably an expansive retrospective held at the Museum of Modern Art only a few years ago, Friedlander’s career really began with his photos of the jazz and blues world. His other subjects include American monuments, family and friends, and oftentimes even his own reflection or shadow – an "amateur mistake" professionally done. The term "social landscape" was coined by Friedlander and used in connection with his work as well as the work of Diane Arbus and Gary Winogrand, with whom he is often compared.

Aislinn Hyde, Samek Art Gallery Graduate Assistant

Africa, Liberia/Sierre Leone
Helmet Masks (Bundu), 20th century
wood, organic fiber
Gift of Alfred M. Prince
2006.15.1-4

Bundu is the type of mask worn by the women of the Mende people who are members of the female secret society. The Mende reside primarily in Western Africa, in Sierra Leone and Liberia. While there are many male secret societies in Africa, these masks represent perhaps the only known female secret society.